Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Permanent heart pacemaker implants in 42 dogs with slow heart rates
By Domenech, Oriol et al.·Published in Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research·2005·Clinica Veterinaria Gran Sasso, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The implantation of a permanent transvenous endocardial pacemaker in 42 dogs: a retrospective study.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 42 dogs with slow heart rates that didn’t improve with medication received a special type of pacemaker called a transvenous endocardial pacemaker. This procedure is less invasive and aims to help dogs with serious heart rhythm issues. While some dogs experienced complications, most recovered well, and the average lifespan for those with the pacemaker was about 11.4 years. Overall, this treatment proved to be a safe and effective option for dogs suffering from bradyarrhythmia (slow heart rate).
People also search for: dog slow heart rate treatment · pacemaker for dogs · dog heart problems surgery · bradyarrhythmia in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The primary indication for pacemaker therapy in dogs and cats is symptomatic bradyarrhythmia that does not respond to medical treatment. Different techniques have been used for pacemaker implantation since 1968. Transvenous endocardial pacemaker implantation is a minimally invasive method and represents the first choice of treatment for this type of arrhythmia. MATERIAL/METHODS: The authors reviewed retrospectively the indications, efficacy, complications, and long-term outcome in 42 cases of transvenous endocardial pacemaker implantation in dogs. RESULTS: Complications which required a second intervention occurred in 10 dogs (23.8%), while complications that did not require another procedure occurred in 5 dogs (11.9%). Two of the 42 patients died due to the pacemaker implantation (mortality: 4.76%). The mean survival age of those patients with a pacemaker that survived the procedure was 11.4 years. CONCLUSIONS: The life expectancy of our patients carrying a pacemaker was higher than the general life expectancy published in a study on a large population of dogs. The low mortality rate and long life expectancy of dogs treated makes transvenous pacemaker implantation an efficacious and safe alternative for treatment of those bradyarrhythmias that do not respond to medical therapy.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15917711/